"Since that's the case, let's proceed according to your idea, Dr. Fuji," Giovanni said calmly.
"But rember this—there is only one last sample of w's genes left. You cannot fail."
As he looked at the fully installed machinery inside the laboratory, a glint of naked ambition burned in Giovanni's eyes.
"Of course," Dr. Fuji replied.
"I won't fail."
In his eyes surged the sa things—madness and ambition.
"Boss, Ash has arrived," Matori reported as she returned, though it was unclear when she had left.
"He's already here?" Giovanni nodded.
"Then bring him in."
"Yes."
-----
Viridian Gym
"Ash, please follow ."
Led by Matori, Ash Ketchum arrived before an elevator guarded by staff.
Through Aura Perception, Ash had long since known that this was the entrance to Team Rocket's underground base beneath Viridian Gym, so there was no surprise or fluctuation in his emotions.
Holding Pikachu in his arms and accompanied by Charizard, he followed Matori into the elevator.
Inside were only Ash, his two Pokémon, Matori, and a heavily built man dressed as a Gym staff mber—clearly a Team Rocket operative in disguise.
Clank.
Whirr.
Thud.
The elevator descended rapidly.
Within Ash's Aura senses, it soon reached the depths of the Team Rocket underground base.
Both Ash and Matori were taciturnly in sync—Matori walked ahead in silence, while Ash looked around with curiosity but asked no questions.
Inside the base, Team Rocket mbers were either buried in their work or moving briskly through the corridors. When they encountered Ash's group, they respectfully saluted Matori, who was leading the way—
As for Ash, they deliberately ignored him.
Soon, Matori led Ash into a laboratory packed with all kinds of complex instrunts. Waiting inside were Giovanni and Dr. Fuji, whom Ash had t before during the treatnt of Rattata.
"Ash, you're here," Giovanni greeted with a faint smile.
The mont Ash entered, the other researchers seed to regard his arrival as the final missing piece. One by one, they rushed to their assigned instrunts and took their positions.
"Araki—activate the flow cytoter."
"Unit B—inject the filtered w genes, the human combat genes, and genetic sequence 'XZ' into the healthy ovum."
The laboratory instantly beca a battlefield.
Researchers operated their machines at full speed, performing procedures Ash couldn't fully comprehend.
Yet from fragnts of their discussions—and from quietly listening to their thoughts through Aura—Ash pieced together the truth:
The wtwo Project aid to create a being that surpassed w, a true god born by human hands.
The experint used w's genes as the base, fused with violent, combat-oriented human genes, making wtwo a hybrid lifeform, straddling the line between Pokémon and human.
Both the w genes and human genes had been heavily filtered beforehand.
From w's geno, genes deed "unnecessary"—such as its transformation ability and certain personality traits—had been completely removed, leaving only those optimized for combat.
The human genes were also carefully selected, extracted from the most violent and aggressive genetic samples.
In addition, every researcher repeatedly ntioned a mysterious genetic sequence labeled "XZ."
But when Ash tried to probe deeper—
It was as if the researchers had been hypnotized.
Their minds went blank the mont they thought about it. They only knew one thing:
In addition to w genes and violent human genes, the XZ sequence had to be included.
"What exactly is this XZ sequence…?"
Ash frowned inwardly.
"How can sothing be even more secretive than w's genes?"
Still, he didn't dwell on it for long.
From the researchers' thoughts, he learned that the wtwo experint had already been attempted many tis.
Each attempt had failed because the fusion of w genes and human genes caused genetic chain collapse during embryonic developnt.
Dr. Fuji and his team had long tried to develop a genetic stabilizer, but none had proven effective.
As a result, the project had been stalled for a very long ti.
Only after Ash successfully treated Rattata, proving that his psychic power could repair genetic collapse, did the wtwo Project resu.
"So that ans…"
Ash's lips curled into a strange smile.
"This new round of the wtwo Project has just begun."
"Right now, wtwo isn't even a true embryo—just fragnted genetic material."
Realizing this, Ash couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, suddenly, excitent surged through him.
What Team Rocket was doing at this very mont was nothing less than creating a god with mortal hands.
And he—
He was not only witnessing this insane miracle with his own eyes,
but would also personally take part in it, contributing his own power to wtwo's birth.
His once-calm heart began to race.
"Dr. Fuji," one of the researchers reported,
"The w genes, warrior genes, and XZ genes have all been injected. What remains is the final step."
All eyes turned toward Dr. Fuji.
But Dr. Fuji's burning gaze was fixed on Ash.
"Ash," Dr. Fuji said solemnly,
"Now, I must ask you—please use your healing psychic power to treat this fertilized egg."
"Leave it to ."
Ash nodded.
He didn't ask pointless questions like 'Wasn't I supposed to treat a special Pokémon? Why an embryo?'
Everyone here understood the unspoken rules.
He was being paid to participate in the wtwo Project.
He had acknowledged Giovanni as his teacher.
To tear away the veil now would benefit no one.
Under the intense gazes of Giovanni, Matori, Dr. Fuji, and the entire research team, Ash stepped forward to the central lab table.
Inside the flow cytoter rested a single fertilized egg.
Ash took a deep breath.
Then he extended his hand, hovering it above the instrunt—
separated only by a thin layer of glass—
And began to channel Healing Grace, pouring his power into the fragile new life.
--------------
T/N:
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